Board Briefs
Summary of the August 15, 2022 Board Meeting at Attea
Board Meeting Recording
2022-2023 Opening School Plan & ESSER Update
Superintendent Dr. Dane Delli presented the District's opening plan, including the COVID-19 health and safety protocols. He stated that the District's goal is to keep all students, in person, every day in the safest environment possible, and explained that the plan aligns with CDC guidance was updated on August 11. He explained that the plan also maintains the District's authority to implement mitigations to protect the health and safety of staff and students.
A key area of the protocols includes the availability of rapid antigen testing in schools to rule out COVID-19 if a staff member or student develops new symptoms, unrelated to a known existing condition, while at school. That rapid testing will allow those who test negative to return to class with limited interruption. Isolation for those who test positive begins on the day symptoms appeared. They can return on day six, if they wear a mask on days 6-10. When students are not in school due to COVID-19, grade center teachers will provide remote instruction and/or other support. One-way Zoom classroom instruction will be provided for students in grades 6-8 (Zoom instruction is not available with substitute teachers).
Community Participation
Community members are encouraged to attend Board of Education meetings and contribute during the community participation periods. In all regular Board of Education meetings, the Board follows a set agenda that include two opportunities for community participation. Board Briefs provides a summary of the topics addressed by those who speak; the meeting recording, above, provides a full recording of comments from the community.
During the first opportunity for community comments, Patrick Quaid, D34 parent, expressed dissatisfaction with how the District has responded to COVID and said that he sees no reason for students to stay home with symptoms for five days if families choose not to test.
During the second opportunity for comments, the following community members spoke:
- Dan Vosnos asked about the testing protocols that are part of the opening school plan. He expressed concern about the District's authority to implement mitigations.
- Rishi Awatramani, D34 parent, expressed confusion about how the District follows guidance. He asked about the costs related to masking, isolation and remote learning.
- Elena Bezman, D34 parent, said that the Board and District need to rebuild trust with parents.
Consent Agenda & Other Resolutions
The Board approved the opening plan, with specific direction to allow families to provide results of tests administered at home or other location in addition to the availability of rapid antigen testing in school. The Board also approved the retirement contract for Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Kevin Dorken.
Discussion
Construction Update
Dave Torres from Nicholas & Associates stated that construction is progressing to allow staff to return to buildings on Friday, August 19, and to welcome students on August 25. He explained that there were labor and material delays throughout the summer. He also explained the issues with a delay in ComEd delivering a transformer delay at Henking. A generator at Henking will begin running this week. Board President Scott Nelson expressed frustration with ComEd's delay in delivering the transformer at Henking, which was ordered in late 2021.
Work will continue beyond the start of the school year, but it will not have impact on students and staff.
Unaudited Financials for Fiscal Year 2022
Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Eric Miller presented the 2022 budget in review. The District saw a $25M overall surplus and an $11.8M operating surplus in large part due to the early expiration of the Glen TIF.
Fiscal Year 2023 Final Budget
Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Eric Miller presented the FY2023 final budget. The budget projects a deficit of $36.2M across all funds, based on a spend down of bonds issued in the last few years for ongoing construction. Operating funds show a $4.4M surplus.
The District will hold a public hearing of the final budget in September before approval.
Health & Dental Renewal Rates for FY2023
Mr. Miller provided information about the calendar year 2023 insurance renewal rates. The District's Insurance Subcommittee met to review trends and utilization and recommend changes. Overall, the PPO rate will increase by 15%, the HMO rate will increase by 17.8% and there will be no rate change in the dental plan. The annual Board contribution per employee will increase by 6.25%
Reports
Construction Debt Summary Report
Mr. Miller pointed out that the debt summary includes a $37M reduction in costs originally expected, which results in a 3-year reduction in debt obligations. Overall, the District realized a 1.56% interest rate, a very low rate, beneficial to property tax payers.
The debt summary report includes the following details:
- The community approved $119M of referendum bonds on March 17, 2020.
- The original plan was to issue the referendum bonds in 4 pieces 2020-2024 and repay over 23 years.
- Given the record breaking low interest rates experienced over 2020-2022, the District issued the referendum bonds in 2 pieces and repaid them over 19 years saving the community over $37M in interest cost versus the pre-referendum estimate.
- $60M of the bonds were issued in December of 2020 at an all-in true interest cost of 0.94%.
- $59M of bonds were issued in December of 2021 at an all-in true interest cost of 1.98%.
- $9.3M of non-referendum bonds issued July of 2022 at an all-in true interest cost of 2.81%.
Glenview District 34 is governed by a seven-person Board of Education, elected by the community, that consists of the following individuals:
- Scott Nelson (President)
- John Heggie (Vice President)
- Mike Korman (Secretary)
- Jim Baumstark
- James Dolan
- Natalie Jachtorowycz
- Diane Stefani
You can contact the Board at board@glenview34.org.
Glenview School District 34 is a diverse, inclusive school district that serves approximately 4,300 students from preschool through eighth grade across three primary schools (Henking, Lyon and Westbrook), three intermediate schools (Glen Grove, Hoffman and Pleasant Ridge), and two middle schools (Attea and Springman).
Location: 1401 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL, USA
Phone: 847-998-5000